Apparatus for instruction and practice use in bowling with tenpins



E. F. WOLFF APPARATUS FOR INSTRUCTION AND PRACTICE Feb. 5, 19633,076,652

USE IN BOWLING WITH TENPINS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan'. 10, 1961 w ml|.l M2381 Y E w H mm m mww M .IF. ..m m Ea w 1% Feb. 5, 1963 E. WOLFFAPPARATUS FOR INSTRUCTION AND PRACTICE USE IN BOWLING WITH TENPINS FiledJan. 10, l

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 5, 1963 E. F. WOLFF I APPARATUS FOR INSTRUCTIONAND PRACTICE USE IN BOWLING WITH TENPINS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 10,1961 INVJEINTOIZ Edwin F WoJfI? ATTORNEY Feb. 5, 1963- 3,076,652

E. F. WOLFF APPARATUS FOR INSTRUCTION AND PRACTICE USE IN BOWLING WITHTENPINS Filed Jan. 10, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q Ed FW i 1 W1]? O QAZW R 5gp 5 I ATTORNEY United States PatentO 3,076,652 APPARATUS FORINSTRUCTION AND PRACTICE USE IN BOWLING WITH TENPINS Edwin F. Wolff,2007 Green Rock Lane,

Indianapolis 3, Ind.

Filed Jan. 10, 1961, Ser. No. 81,821 21 Claims. (Cl. 273-54) a Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of my application, Serial No.17,152, now abandoned, for Apparatus for Practice Use in Bowling WithTenpins on Standard Bowling Alleys.

The invention of the present application relates to apparatus of suchcharacter and includes sundry features which are disclosed and claimedin my said application, Serial No. 17,152 and also includes a number offeatures which are new as compared with the apparatus of my saidapplication and which have a number of substantial advantages. Standandbowling alleys each have a foul line which limits ,the players positionin throwing the ball and include, a lane? along which the ball is rolledand which has a length from the foul line to the No. 1 pin of sixtybeyond which is apit having a floor a few inches below I the pin deckand into which the balls fall, thence being returned to the bowler bythe usual means. Gutters for wild balls are provided at each side of thelane'and extend to the pit. A number of alleys are in parallel relation,adjacent alleys being separated by longitudinally extending divisionboards which project for a few inches above the gutters. a

I have found that if a target, adjustably positionable transversely ofthe lane, be placed at approximately fifteen feet" from the foul line, abowler, delivering the ballback of the foul line, by repeated efforts inaiming at the target and checking the results will determine theoptimumposition of the target for a strike or any particular spare,accordingly as he may rolistr aight balls, reverse balls, hooks orcurves. The bowler, in actual play, keeping ,the optimum target locationin mind, will obtain substantially improved results, bothas to strikesand spares; If he be practising for strikes where the ideal is a hit inthe pockets between the. No. 1 and No. 3 pins (fora right-handed bowler)'or between the No. 1 and No. 2 pins (for a lefthanded bowler) he willlearn the position of the ,target which will improve his game in thisrespect. Similarly if he has encountered difficulties with someparticular spare, he will learn the position of the target which willimprove his game in making this spare. v

The essential objects of the invention are set forth in the immediatelyfollowing paragraphs which for conven- "ience of identification andreference are numbered '1 to 6.

(1) The principal object of the invention is to provide an apparatus ofsimple structural character which is equally useful for practice orinstruction and may be set up in operative relation'to any particularalley, wherein the target, positioned to be hit by the ball, has anormal pendant position and has movement when hit and returns to itsnormal position when the ball has passed beyond it, wherein when thetarget is hit its movement results in a visible or audible signal whichinforms the bowler of the fact .and when it returns to its normalposition its movementresultsin the discontinuance of the signal, whereinthe target isso mounted that it may bepositioned at any point along aline transverse to the lane, and wherein a manually actuateddevicewithin easy reach of the bowler, that is to say, at or} near thefoul line or in the approach area, is utilized by the bowler to set thetarget at any predetermined position. (2) A further'object is toprovideapparatus having 7 3,076,652 Patented Feb. 5, 1963 "ice supported by thedivision boards at the sides of the lane may, without removal, bereadily and quickly swung to a position in which it overhangs one of thedivision boards as a support, thereby to enable the lane to be used forstandard bowling games, and when the use of the lane is desired forpractice or instruction purposes may'as readily and quickly be swunginto a position in operative relation ,to the lane, in which position itis supported by the division boands at the sides of the lane.

(4) A further object is to provide apparatus which includes a unitpositional-1y adjustable transversely of the lane and comprising incooperative relation a pendant pivota'lly movable target plate, asensual signal and an electrically operated signal activating meansunder the control of the target plate, the signal preferably being ofvisible character.

(5) A further object is to provide apparatus wherein the manuallyactuated device for the adjustable positioning of the target is inoperative combination with a removable chart having a determined initialposition and which participates in the manually effected movement ofpants of the device, the chart thereby being rotatable in eitherdirection from its initial position and being provided with peripheralcalibrations, preferably in inches, where are available for pencilmarkings to record the optimum position of the target plate for aparticular shot and to identify that shot. Whenthis record has been madethe bowler may remove the chart and retain it, either for the purpose ofmemorizing the position of the target plate for that shot or forinspection when that shot is required in actual bowling.

(6) A further object is to provide apparatus which will promote accuracyin the delivery of the ball, alike as to whether the apparatus be, usedfor practice or instruction.

Referring to object (1):

The invention, generally speaking, is a combination of elementsgenerally characterized by a pair of vertical standards to be mounted intransverse alinement upon the division boards at each side of the laneand which at their upper ends carry a transverse supporting bar, apendant target supported by the bar for swinging movement between anormal position and a displaced position and in its normal positionhaving its lower end at an elevation such that it'will be hit anddisplaced by the bowling ball, means for moving the target-along the barto any desired position and including a targetpositioning device,located adjacent thefoul line and actuated by the bowler, the targetbeing in operative association with means for the control of the circuitof a visible or audible signal, such means being operative when thetarget is hit to condition the circuit for the operation of the signal,and being operative when the target swings back to its normal positionto condition the circuit to terminate the operation of the signal.

Referring to object (2):

For the ready and quick mounting of the apparatus upon the divisionboards at the sides of the lane and for its equally-ready and quickremoval from the division boards, the inventionis characterized (1) by apair of mounting'plates for permanet attachment to one of the divisionboards, one of the mounting plates being adjacent the foul line and theother being at a distance along the lane of sixteen feet from the foulline, the provision of a standard as a part of the actuating device,such standard and one of the standards required for the support of thetarget being provided at their lower ends with plinthlike flanges forarticulate engagement with features of the mounting plates, the flangesbeing readily engageable and disengageable from the mounting plates; (2)by the second standard for the support of the target as resting upon thedivision board at the opposite side of the lane being provided at itslower end with a projection which has a loose fit in a recess formed inthe upper surface of the division boards; and (3) by a chain whichoperatively connects vertical shafts, one of which is associated withthe actuating device and the other with the target supporting standard,the chain being constructed for ready disconnection from the shafts.When the apparatus is to be removed entirely from the lane the chain isdisconnected, the plinthlike projections are disengaged from the baseplates, and the standard at the opposite side of the lane is lifted todisengage its projection from the recess. T'hereupon the apparatus mayreadily be moved to any place of storage.

Refenring to object (3):

According to the invention the mounting of the apparatus to enable theuse of a particular lane for the purposes of practice or instructiondoes not require the removal of the apparatus when it is desired to usethat lane for actual play. In this respect the invention ischaracterized by the connection of the transverse target supporting barin a journalled manner to one of the standards which may be called apermanent standard in that it remains in its position on the divisionboand as a support and by the fixed connection of the transverse bar atwhat may be called its free end to the standard supported upon thedivision board at the opposite side of the lane and which may be calledthe swingable standard, this standard preferably having a projection forengagement in, and for free disengagement from, a recess in suchdivision board. The construction is such that the transverse bar may belifted to the extent necessary to disengage the projection from therecess and may thereupon be swung, carrying with it the swingablestandard, into a position above and in overlying relation to thedivision board which supports the permanently mounted standard, thislatter division board being also formed with a recess to accommodate theprojection on the swingable standard. When the use of the alley is againdesired for practice or instruction purposes, the operations abovedescribed are'carried out in reverse relation.

Referring to object (4):

The invention is characterized by a unit which includes the signal, itsactivating means, the target plate and a casing which provides supportfor the target plate and carries the signal and encloses its activatingmeans. The casing, and with it the target plate, is positionallyadjustable transversely of the lane and is supported by and movablealong the transverse bar. The signal may be either visual or audible. Inthe construction shown and preferred the signal is visual and itsoperation involves the illumination of an area of the casing adjacentthe target plate. Concerning this aspect of the invention and, as aninstructor of the game of tenpin bowling, I have found that due to therapidity of movement of the bowling ball, the smallsize of the targetplate at a distance of fifteen feet-from the foul line and thenoiselessness and rapidity of its movement, and also due to thedifferent characteristics of the throws, i.e., straight ball, reverseball, hook or curve, the bowler, absent a signal when the target is hit,cannot with certainty determine the fact nor can he determine whetherhis bail passed to one side of the target plate. The signal givesdefinite and sensual indication that the ball has hit the target plate,also informs the bowler of the precise location of the target plate asoptimum for the particular shot, and by its absence informs the bowlerthat his ball hasm-issed the target plate.

Referring to object (5):

According to the invention: The manually actuated device for theadjustable positioning of the target includes a. vertical shaft which isconnected by sprocket and chain gearing to the positionally adjustableunit which includes the target plate; the shaft of the actuating deviceis provided with a hand wheel by which it may be turned in eitherdirection and is in association with a fixed overhanging pointer; and apaper chart peripherally calibrated, preferably in inches, is fittedupon the hand wheel for ready removal, the chart having an initialdetermined position relatively to the pointer and participating in themovement of the hand wheel. When the position of the target. plate isdetermined for a particular shot, i.e., a particular spare, by thesuccessful execution of that shot, the chart is in a correspondingposition relatively to the pointer and the number of the pin to be firststruck by the ball in maleing that shot is marked by a pencil upon thechart in coincidence with the pointer. Thereby the bowler has a recordof the position of the chart indicative of the optimum position of thetarget plate for that particular shot. By removing the chart from thehand wheel and taking note of the location of the pencilled pin numherthe bowler may memorize the optimum location of the target plate or ifhe prefers may refer to the chart when that shot comes up in an actualgame.

Referring to object (6):

The invention is characterized by the suspension of the target platefrom a bar which extends transversely across the lane. Thereby thedegree to which the target plate extends below the apogee point of theball may be determined and maintained with accuracy. The preference isthat the target plate extend not more than one-eighth of an inch belowthe apogee point of the ball, the transverse zone of contact between theball and the target plate being thereby sufliciently limited to promoteaccuracy in the delivery of the ball.

In the drawingsi FIGURE 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, of abowling alley lane equipped with apparatus embodying the invention, theapparatus being shown in schematic plan.

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of that part of the apparatus which includes thepositionally adjustable unit carrying the target plate and thetransverse bar by which the unit is supported, these parts being shownas supported in operative relation to the lane of a bowling alley.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the actuating device for effecting thepositional adjustment of the target plate, this figure also including afragmentary plan view of the division board by which the actuatingdevice is supported adjacent the foul line.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view on the line 66 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is an end eleavtion (viewed from the left of FIGURE 7) of thecasing which encloses the signal means.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a mounting plate which as shown inthis figure is for the support of the standard to which is connected thetransverse bar upon which the target plate is mounted, a similarmounting plate being provided for the supporting standard of theactuating device. Both plates are mounted on the same division board.

FIGURE 10 is a schematic plan view showing the arrangement of the twomounting plates whereby a chain, operatively connected to the shaft ofthe actuating device and to a shaft associated with a supportingstandard, both shafts being mounted on the same division board, ismaintained under tension.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 11-11 of FIGURE3.

FIGURE 12 is an exploded perspective view of an elbow and associatedparts for the connection of the transverse bar to a supporting standard.

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of a swingable supporting standard forthe transverse bar upon which the positionally adjustable target plateunit is mounted. FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary plan view showing thetransverse bar which carries the target plate positioned in overhangingrelation to a division board to enable the use of the alley for abowling game.

FIGURE is a front elevation of the casing which encloses the signalmeans but with the front wall of the casing removed and the signal meansomitted.

FIGURE 16 (Sheet 1) is a plan view of the chart which is provided inassociationwith the hand wheel of the actuating device for thepositional adjustment of the target plate.

FIGURE 1 shows a standard bowling alley having a lane L along which theballs are rolled and which extends from the foul line F to the pit P andincludes a deck D for the tenpins T. The lane has a width of between 41and 42 inches and from the foul line F to the No. 1 pin T1 has a lengthof 60 feet, the center line of the lane extending through the spot forthe pin T1. The deck D has a length of approximately three feet. Thefloor of the pit P is located a few inches below the level of the deckD. The alley includes gutters G, one at each side of the lane L toreceive wild balls, the gutters'G extending for the full length of thelane L including the deck D and the balls which may be thrown into thegutters G falling into the pit P. Back of the foul line -F there is anapproach area A which is coplanar with the lane L. The bowling balls arereturned from the pit P by the usual mechanism to positions in whichthey may be picked up the bowlers within the area A. The alleys areadjacent in parallel relation and are separated from one another bydivision boards S which project a few inches above the gutters. Certainof the alleys are similarly separated by the casings of the ballreturnchannels, these casings being the functional equivalent of thedivision boards. Each lane may carry the usual embedded floor targets Earranged in a pattern which may have an overall extent of from twelve tosixteen feet from the foul line F, the embodiments E being ideallyarranged at intervals 'of five inches along the sides of an isoscelestriangle and the base of the triangle subtending the area through whichthe balls are rolled. I

The apparatus of the invention has as an essential feature a pendanttarget plate 1 of rigid of semi-rigid material such as vulcanizedrubber. The plate 1 is mounted for swinging movement about a transverseaxis and occupies a normal perpendicular position with its lower end 2,which is preferably pointed, extending slightly below the horizontalplane in which lies the uppermost or apogee surface point of the bowlingball B. The target plate 1 is ideally located at a distance ofapproximately fifteen feet from the foul line F and is so mounted thatit may be positioned at any point along a line X (indicated by dot anddash lines in FIGURE 1), transverse to the lane L.

The plate 1 is carried by a casing 3 which is supported by and slidablymounted upon a bar 4 extending transversely of the lane L in overhangingrelation when the apparatus is set up for use. The casing 3 is ofbox-like form and includes end walls 5, a bottom wall 6, a top wall 7, arear wall 8, and a front wall 9. The end walls 5 are formed withrectangular openings 10 through which the bar 4 extends, the edges ofthe openings 10 being slightly spaced from the bar 4 to avoidmetal-to-metal contact when the casing 3 is moved along the bar 4 fromone position to another.

'scription.

may be struck up from the flanges.

The target plate 1 is carried by a hanger 11 of substantial L-s-hapewhich includes a vertical arm 12 and a horizontal arm 13 and is mountedupon a rod 14 within the casing 3 having its ends journalled in openingsin the end walls 5. The rod 14 is located at the junction of the arms 12and 13 and the hanger 11 is attached to the rod by screws 15. The targetplate 1 is attached to the arm 12 by means of a bolt and nutfastening-16, the arm 12 having a slot 17 to accommodate the bolt of thefastener. Thereby the position of the target plate 1 along the arm 12may be selected to accord with the particular distance of the bar 4above the lane L, this distance varying with variations in the height ofthe division boards S as made by different bowling alley constructors.

According to the invention, the signal indicative of the hitting of thetarget plate 1 by the bowling ball is electrically controlled andmounted within the casing 3. The signal may be either audible or visual,a visual signal being preferred and herein shown. The signal includes atranslucent window 18 incorporated with the front wall 9 of the casing 3and an electric bulb 19 located behind =the window. The signalactivating means includes batteries 20 mounted within the casing, oneadjacent to each of the end walls 5, the batteries supplying current forenergizing the signal. Each battery is supported from an adjacent endwall 5 by the usual and well-known metal battery holding bracket 20aattached to the wall by bolt and nut fastenings 20b and provided withupper and lower spring clips 21 and end clips 22. The clips 22 carry thewire attachment fingers 23 which are in electrical connection with thepole pieces at the end of the battery and are insulated from thebracket. It is deemed unnecessary to show a wiring diagram for the lamp19, the circuit having no features which require de- It will besufficient to point out that the signal activating means includes acircuit closing switch under the control of the hanger 11.' A mercuryswitch 24 is shown and preferred and is attached to the arm 13 of thehanger 11 by a spring clip 25. In the normal pendant position of thetarget plate 1 the circuit of the lamp 19 is broken atthe mercury switch24. When the target plate is hit by the bowling ball and thereby movedbackward as shownby the dot and dash lines in FIGURE 6 the of the,results of this throw. If the ball hits the target plate the fact willbe shown by the visual signal. If the ball passes to one side of thetarget plate the fact will be shown by the absence of the visual signal.

One of the walls of the casing 3 is utilized as a removable lid in orderthat ready access may be had to the parts within the casing when repairor substitution may be required. The front wall 9 is preferably utilizedfor this purpose and is mounted slidably in relation to the bottom andtop walls 6 and7. The walls 5, 6 and 7 at the front side of the casingare provided with inwardly projecting flanges 26 and one of the walls 5,i.e., the wall to the right, FIGURE 7 being considered, and the walls 6and 7 beyond the flanges are provided with inwardly projecting clips 27arranged at suitable intervals and which The flanges 26 and the clips 27of the walls 6 and 7 provide guiding and retaining elements for the wall9.

limit the inward and replacement sliding movement of the wall 9.

The wall 9 may be of any suitable construction to provide thetranslucent window 18 within an opaque field. It is preferred that thewall 9 be made of translucent glass or plastic and that its front facehe covered by an opaque coating 28 except for the window 18.

The bar 4 is of U-shaped cross section to provide a channel 29 for acable in the form of a sprocket chain 30 which rests in parallelrelation to the bar 4 on the bottom of the channel 29 and by which thecasing 3 is moved along the bar 4, the chain 30 including a joining link31 of well-known form to which the end links of the chain are connectedand being readily connected to or disconnected from the link 31 asoccasion may require. the operative connection of the casing 3 to thechain 29 a bifurcated finger 32 is attached to one of the walls at itsouter side and, projecting across the opening 10, extends betweenadjacent links of the chain 30, for example between the joining link 31and an adjacent link. For the direct support of the casing 3 from thebar 4 rectangular frames 33 are provided, these having central openings34 which are slightly smaller than the openings with which theyregister. The frames 33 are adjacent the inner faces of the walls 5 andare secured by bolt and nut fastenings 35, one of which is also used tosecure the finger 32. The upper walls of the openings 34 rest upon theedges of the side walls of the channel 29 and the side walls of theopenings 34 are sufliciently close to the side walls of the channel toprevent any lateral play between the casing 3 and the bar 4. Compressednylon is preferred as the material of the frames 33 in that it enablesthe sliding movement of the casing 3 to be effected noise- .lessly andwith a minimum of frictional resistance.

The bar 4 extends between and is supported by transversely alinedupright standards 36 and 37 which are mounted upon the division boards Sat the opposite sides of the lane.

For the mounting of the standard 36a mounting plate 38 may bepermanently attached, as by screw fastenings, to the division board S.In the construction preferred the plate 38 is provided at its sides withparallel overhanging flanges 39 which define parallel grooves 40. Thestandard 36 is of tubular form and at its lower end is provided with acircumscribing plinthlike flange 41 which is engaged -by a slidingmovement within the grooves 40. The plate 38 is provided at its frontend with an upwardly projecting pin 42 which limits the sliding movementof the flange 41.

The standard 36 is provided with journals, only the upper journal 43abeing shown, for a centrally located vertical shaft 43 which carries atits upper and lower ends annular gear elements in the form of sprocketwheels 44 and 45 respectively. The upper journal 43a cooperates with thesprocket wheel 44 to provide a support for the shaft 43. The wheel 44drives the chain which is trained over an idler sprocket wheel 46located within the channel 29 at a point suitable for the limitation ofthe movement of the casing 3 toward the leg 37, the side walls of thechannel 29 being formed with recesses 47 which provide clearances forthe chain 30 as trained over the wheel 46.

The standard 37 is preferably in the form of'a flat vertical bar havingan inwardly directed extension 48 at its upper end and an outwardlydirected extension 49 at For a its lower end, the extension 49 restingfor support upon 50,-the selection of the openings for the bolts beingin accord with the particular width of the lane. The extension 49 ispreferably provided with a downwardly directed terminal projection 52which has a loose fit in a recess 53 formed in the upper face of thedivision board S.

The bar 4 is connected to the upper end of the standard 36 by 'an elbowmember 54 which has a horizontal arm 55 and a downwardly directed arm56. The arm 55 is formed with a central opening 57 of rectangular crosssection, the end portion of the bar 4 adjacent the standard 36 having aclose fit in the opening and preferably being secured by a screw 58, theinner end of which may bear in a recess 59 in the adjacent wall of thechannel 29. The elbow 54 isformed with a flat upper face 60 to which anopening 61 extends and through which access may be had to the sprocketwheel 44, the opening 61 preferably being covered by a removable plate62. The arm 56 fits conformably in a journalled manner over the upperend portion of the standard 36 and is secured against displacement by afastening screw 63, the inner end of which projects into an annulargroove 64 formed externally upon the standard 36 and having a widthgreater than the diameter of the screw 63 whereby the elbow 54 may bemoved upward to a slight extent along the standard 36. Such upwardmovement of the elbow enables the ready disconnection of the projection52 from the recess 53.

When the apparatus is to be removed from the lane and taken to a placeof storage, all that is required is to disengage the flange 41 from themounting plate 38 and the projection 52 from the recess 53. The removalof the apparatus from the lane is, however, not necessary when it isdesired to use-the lane for a bowling game. In. such a case the standard36 remains connected to the mounting plate 38 and the projection 52 isdisengaged from the recess 53 whereupon, the elbow 54 being journalledupon the standard 36, the bar 4 is swung to a position above andparallel to the division board S upon which the standard 36 is supportedand the projection 52 is engaged in a recess 65 (similar to therecess53) in the upper face of the division board. When the use of the lane isdesired for practice or instruction purposes the bar 4 is restored toits operative position as shown in FIGURE 2 in which it extendstransversely of the lane and the projection 52 is re-engaged in therecess 53.

The actuating device, operated by the bowler, for effecting thepositional adjustment of the target plate 1, is shown in FIGURES 4 and 5and includes a tubular supporting standard'66 having at its lower end aplinthlike flange 41a,'similar to the flange 41 and similarlyarticulated for removal and replacement relatively to a mounting plate380, similar to the mounting plate 38. The plate 38a is provided at itsrear end with an upwardly projecting pin 42;? similar to the pin 42 andservmg to limit the sliding movement of the flange 41a in itsarticulated engagement with the mounting plate 38a, the pin 42a beinglocated at the rear end of the plate 38a. The standard 66 carries ajournal 67, fixed in positron as by screws '68, for a vertical shaft 69which is turned by a handle 70, preferably in the form of a discshapedknob which may be composed of suitable plastic material and has adownwardly extending hub 71 through which the shaft 69 extends and whichis pinned or otherwise made fast to the shaft. The shaft 69 carries a.sprocket wheel 72 located immediately above the upper end of thestandard 66 and having a hub 73 which abuts the hub 71 and is similarlypinned to the shaft. The sprocket wheel 72 is in driving relation to asprocket chain 74 which extends through an opening 75 in the standard 36and drives the sprocket wheel 45 at the lower end of the .shaft 42. Whenthe handle is turned the chain 74 via-the sprocket wheel 45 effects therotation of the shaft 43-which through the sprocket wheel 44 effects themovement of the chain '30 with the resultant transverse movement of thecasing 3 and the target plate 1.

As above noted the pin 42 is at the front end of the plate 38 and thepin 42a is at the rear end of the plate 38a, the flange 41 beingarticulated with the mounting plate 38 by a forward sliding movement,the flange 41a being articulated with the mounting plate 38a by arearward movement and the pins 41 and 41a serving to limit the slidingmovement of the flanges. It is moreover to be noted that the pins 42 and42a are so located that they limit the movement of the flanges topositions as shown in FIGURE 10, in which the chain 74 is held undersuitable tension, the mounting plates 38 and 38a and the pins 42 and 42athereby serving the additional function of a tensioning means for thechain -74. The chain 74 includes a joining link similar to the link of31 of the chain 30 whereby itmay be readily disconnected when theapparatus is to be removed from the lane for storage. It is preferredthat the casing 3 be moved in the same direction in which the knob'70 isturned, that is to say if the knob be turned to the left orcounter-clockwise the casing 3 will be movedto the left along the bar 4and if the knob 70 be turned to the right or clockwisethe casing 3 willbe moved to the right. For this purpose the finger 32. connects thecasing with the rear length or run 76 of the chain 30.

The knob 70 carries on its upper face a paper chart 77 (FIGURES 4 and16) which participates in the turning movement of the knob. For thispurpose the disc of the knob maybe formed with pins'79 projecting fromits upper face and piercing the chart 77, therebynto key the chart tothe knob. The chart 77 is formed with peripheral calibrations 80preferably spaced an inch apart and identified by numerals 81.

The ratio of the sprocket wheels 72 and 45 (the sprocket wheels 44 and46 being of the same diameter as the sprocket wheel 45) is such that theextent of movement ofythe casing 3 along the bar 4 will correspond withthe extent of the peripheral movement of the chart 77 when the knob 70is turned, that is to say the turning of the knob 70 to move the chartperipherally through the distance of an inch will result in the movementof the cats ing along the bar 4 for the distance of an inch. In theconstruction shown and preferred the peripheral extent of the chart iseight inches whereby a single revolution of the knob 70 will result inthe movement of the casing 3 through a distance of eight inches.

The chart includes what may be called an unnumbered starting calibration80a spaced an inch from adjacent calibrations 80, and the numerals 81are duplicated at the left and right of the chart as far as the numeral4 of the 81 series, this numeral being diametrically opposite thestarting calibration 80a. It has been found convenient to place the wordleft at the left of the'calibration 80a and the wordright at the rightof this calibration, these words being indicative of the direction ofmovement of the knob to effect the movement of the casing? in acorresponding direction. The actuating device carries a fixed pointer'82 which overhangs the peripheral portion of the chart 77 and isattached to the standard 66. In the constructionshown and preferred thepointer 82 is located in coincidence with the rearmost peripheral pointof the chart 77. Thebowler, standing back of the foul line, when turningthe chart to a particular desired position faces the pointer 82/ Myinvention is based on my experience as an instructor in bowling in whichI have established the following facts: (1) Bowlers, when throwing theball, are prone to look at the No. 1 pin as a target, this pin being ata distance of sixty feet from the foul line; (2) his easier to hit atarget fifteen feet from the foul line than to hit a target sixty feetfrom the foul line; (3) that as to form, in throwing the ball thebowlers head should be kept down. (as in golfing) and that it is easierto keep the head down for a target fifteen feet from the foul line thanfor a target sixty feet from the foul line; (4) that different bowlersthrow different ballsjust as different baseball pitchers throw differentballs; (5) that the position of the bowler at one side of the centerline of the lane is important; and 6) that the position of the target atone side of the center line of the lane may vary for a particular shotin accordance with the kind of ball thrown by the bowler, namely astraight ball, a reverse ball (which behaves somewhat like a cue ball inbilliards when sharply hit at a point below its horizontal diametricalplane), a hook ball (having a sharp break), or a curve ball, i.e., aball which travels in a rather wide curve before it hits the particularpin required for the execution of the shot.

In my work as an instructor in bowling I have also found it convenientto use certain non-generic designations which'I have coined, namely, HotSpot, Foul Line Spot and Hot Line. The notation Hot Spot is also thetrademark under which I advertise and sell the apparatus which forms thesubject of my invention and it will be understood that my use of thisnotation in this description is without waiver of my trademark rights.The above terms may be explained as follows: The notation Hot Spot isindicative of the position of the'target for a particular shot (strikeor spare) and is preferably, as shown in FIGURE 2, marked upon thewindow 18. The notation Foul Line Spot is indicative of the spot wherethe bowler drops his ball at or around the foul line and at a'certaindistance in inches from one side of the bowling lane. The notation HotLine is indicative of the line which extends from the Foul Line Spottothe Hot Spot location of the target plate 1 in rolling for strikes.

Assuming that the bowler is right-handed, as in the great majority ofcases, and that the ball is rolled for a strike (the ideal being thatthe ball hit squarely in the pocket between the N0. 1 and No. 3 pins)the bowlers Hot Line is in accordance with the following tabulationbased on the type of ball which the particular bowler may roll, the HotLine being measured in inches to the left of the right edge of thebowling lane:

Hot Line, Inches When the position of the target plate 1 best calculatedfor making a strike has been determined (in accordance with theparticular ball which the bowler may roll) the Hot Line may be markedupon the chart adjacent the notation Hot Line. For example, if themarking be 3"4" its meaning is that when throwing the ball the ballshould be laid at or around the foul line three inches to the left ofthe right side of the bowling lane, and the target plate 1 should befour inches to the left of the right edge of the bowling lane. On thechart 77 I have found it convenient to place the notation Hot Spotadjacent the starting calibration 80a. The bowler; having determined theposition of the target plate best calculated for making a strike, placesthe chart 77 upon the knob 70 with the starting calibration 80a incoincidence with the pointer 82. If the result of his roll should be aspare, the pins constituting the spare will usually be at the left ofthe center line of the lane and for making the spare the ball should hitthe most advanced pin, for example, the No. 2 pin, in which case the HotSpot location of the target plate 1 will be to the left of its originalposition for a distance in inches of three-fourths to one and one-halfinches. The Hot Spot location of the target plate for the particularspare should now be marked by a pencil on the chart 77 by placing thenumher of the pin first to be hit for that spare upon the chart at apoint in coincidence with the pointer 82. The pin number so marked willinform the bowler of the Hot Spot position (distance in inches) of thetarget plate for that particular spare from its Hot Spot position for astrike. If, perchance, the pins constituting the spare should be at theright side of the center line of the lane, the Foul Line Spot of thebowler will be at the left of the center line of the lane and at anappropriate distance from the left side of the lane.

Of course, in the case of left-handed bowlers, rolling for a strikeinvolves hitting the pocket between the No. 1 and No. 2 pins and thedirections as to the location of the Foul Line Spot and the Hot Spot arereversed from those above given.

Generally speaking, with suflicient practice in directing the ball tothe particular Hot Spot location of the target plate 1, the bowler willlearn how to make any spare, including splits, that may be encounteredin the actual game.

I claim:

1. For use in the practice of bowling with tenpins by means of astandard bowling ball and a standard bowling alley having a foul line, abowling lane including a deck for the tenpins, gutters for wild balls ateach side of the lane and upright division boards adjacent the guttersand which project to an elevation above the lane, apparatus whichcomprises, in combination: a pair of transversely alined uprightstandards mounted upon the division boards at the opposite sides of thealley, a transverse bar extendingbetween the standards, supported bythem and connected to their upper ends, a target plate supported by andnormally pendant from the bar and pivotally movable about a transverseaxis, the target plate being engageable by the bowling ball withresultant pivotal movement from its normal position and returning bygravity to its normal position when the bowling ball passes beyond it,the target plate being mounted for slidable positionally adjustablemovement in either direction lengthwise of the bar and in any positionthereof overhanging the bowling lane, means for effecting the slidablemovement of .the target plate to any desired position and including acable in parallel relation to the transverse bar, annular gear elementsadjacent the ends of the transverse bar over which the cable is trained,and a vertical shaft carried by one of the upright standards, one of thegear elements being mounted at the upper end of the shaft, signal meansfor giving a sensual indication of the movement of the target plate asstruck by the bowling ball, the signal means including a sensual signaland having two phases of operation severally in the control of theoperation and the discontinuance of the operation of the signal, onephase of operation of the signal means being a normal phase in which thesignal is inoperative and the second phase being an operative phase inwhich the signal is operative, the target plate controlling theoperation of the signal means in its normal and operative phases and inits normal pendant position providing for the normal phase of theoperation of the means and in its pivotal movement by the bowling ballcooperating with the signal means to effect the second phase of itsoperation in which the signal is operative, the standards and the barbeing positionable at a selected location remote from the foul line andthe tenpin deck, a manually actuated target plate positioning devicelocated in adjacency to the foul line and having a fingerpiece for itsoperation by the bowler, and means of operative connection between thetarget plate positioning device and the vertical shaft for effecting itsturning movement with resultant adjustment of the position of the targetplate.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of the uprightstandards for the support of the transverse bar is of tubular form andthe target plate positioning device includes an upright standard also oftubular form,

both standards of tubular form being supported by the same divisionboard and each being formed at its lower end with a plinthlikeprojection, mounting plates for the standards of tubular form aresecured to the division board and are formed along their sides withoverhanging flanges with which the plinthlike projections may bearticulated by a sliding movement, the standards of tubular form beingdisengaged from the mounting plates by a sliding movement in theopposite direction, and wherein the second upright standard for thesupport of the transverse bar is supported in a detachable manner by thedivision board at the opposite side of the lane.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the second standard for thesupport of the transverse bar is in the form of a flat vertical barhaving an angular extension at its lower end which rests upon thedivision board and which is provided with a downwardly directed terminalprojection, the division board upon which the extension rests beingformed with a recess in which the projection is loosely fitted.

4. Apparatus :as set forth in claim 2 wherein the mounting plate for thestandard of tubular form which supports the transverse bar is providedat its front end with a pin which limits the sliding movement of theplinthlike projection in its articulation with the overhanging flangesand the mounting plate for the standard included in the target platepositioning device is provided at its rear end with a pin which limitsthe sliding movement of the plinthlike projection in its articulationwith the overhanging flanges.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein a vertical shaft ismounted in the standard of tubular form for the support of thetransverse bar, the target plate positioning device includes a verticalshaft provided with a knob for effecting its turning movement, sprocketwheels are mounted on the vertical shafts, a chain operatively connectsthe sprocket wheels, the mounting plate for the standard of tubular formfor the support of the transverse bar is provided at its front end witha pin which limits the sliding movement of the plinthlike projection inits articulation with the overhanging flanges and the mounting plate forthe standard included in the target plate posi- 'tioning device isprovided at its rear end with a pin which limits the sliding movement ofthe plinthlike projection in its articulation with the overhangingflanges, the pins also serving to maintain the chain under tension.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the transverse bar isconnected to one of the upright standards for pivotal movement about avertical axis to a position in which it overhangs in parallel relationthe division board upon which said standard is supported, and the secondupright standard connected to the transverse bar participates in thepivotal movement of the bar and is supported in detachable relation byeither of the division boards, accordingly as it may be positionedtransversely of the lane or as it may be positioned in overhangingrelation to the division board which supports the first named uprightstandard.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the upright standard towhich the transverse bar is connected for pivotal movement is of tubularform and the pivotal connection between the transverse bar and saidstandard includes an elbow having a journalled mounting upon thestandard and to which the transverse bar is rigidly connected.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the upright standard towhich the transverse bar is connected for pivotal movement is of tubularform, the pivotal connection between the transverse bar and saidstandard includes an elbow having a journalled mounting upon thestandard and to which the transverse bar is rigidly connected, thestandard is formed with an annular external groove and the elbow carriesa screw which extends into the groove, the width of the groove beinggreater than the diameter of the screw to enable upward movement of 13the elbow andthe transverse bar relatively to the standard and aslimited by the groove. i I

9. Apparatus as set forth'in claim 6 wherein the second upright standardis formed at its lower end with an extension to rest upon either of thedivision boards,and with a: projection extendingdownwardly from theextension, the division boards each having a recess to receive theprojection;

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the upright standard towhich the transverse bar is connected for. pivotal movement'is oftubular. form, the pivotal connection between the transverse bar andsaid standard includesian elbow having a journalled mounting upon thestandard and to which the transverse bar is rigidly connected, thestandard is' formed with an annulargroove, the elbow carries a screwwhich extends into the groove,

the width of the groove being greater than the diameter of the screw toenable upwardmovement of the elbow and the transverse bar relatively tothe standard and aslimited by the groove, and the second uprightstandard is formed at its lower end with an extension to rest uponeither of the division boards and with a projection extending downwardlyfrom the extension, the division boards each havinga recess to receivethe projection.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the target plate isimmediately supported by and pendant from a casing, the casing issupported by and is slidably mounted upon the transverse bar, thesensual signal is carried by the casing, and the signal means includeselectrical means for. activating the signalenclosed within the casing,-the electrical means including a battery in circuit with the sig- 11:11,a' circuit controlling switch, and a movable part operated by the targetplate for effecting the circuit opening and circuit closing operationsof the switch, the switch having its circuit closing operation when thetarget plate, as struck by the bowling ball, is moved backward about itspivotal axis and having its circuit opening operation upon the return ofthe target plate .to its normal pendant position.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the casing includes endwalls, a rod is journalled in the end walls, the hanger for the targetplate includes a vertical and a horizontal arm and at the junction ofthe arms is attached to the rod, the target plate is connected to thevertical arm, and the switch is a mercury switch and is mounted on thehorizontal arm.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein, the casing has a frontwall provided with a translucent window and the sensual signal is anelectric bulb mounted behind the Window.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the casing has top,bottom, front and rear walls, the front and rear walls extendinglongitudinally of the casing and one of them being removably mounted togive access to the enclosed signal and the enclosed electrical means foractivating the signal.

15 Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the casing has end wallsprovided with rectangular openings, the transverse bar has a crosssectional outline which defines a vertical channel and extends throughthe openings in the end walls, plates of anti-friction and noiseeliminating material are attached to the end walls and are formed withrectangular openings which register with the openings in the end wallsbut are of smaller dimensions, the transverse bar extending through theopenings in the plates and the upper walls of the openings in the platesresting upon the transverse bar as supports for the casing, the sidewalls of the openings in the plates cooperating with the transverse barto prevent loose play of the casing.

16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the casing has end wallsprovided with rectangular openings, the transverse bar has a crosssectional outline which defines a vertical channel and extends throughthe openings, one of the standards for the support of the transverse barcarries a vertical shaft, and the means of'operative connection betweenthe target plate and the means for effecting the slidable movement ofthe target plate along the bar includes a driving sprocket wheel carriedby the shaft, an idler sprocket wheel mounted within the channel, and achain connecting the sprocket wheels, operating within the channeladjacent to the base thereof, and connected to the casing.

17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the target platepositioning device includes a supporting standard and a vertical shaftcarried by the standard, a handle for turning the shaft in eitherdirection, the handle being in the form of a horizontally located discshaped for turning movement therewith, the chart having uniformly spacedperipheral calibrations, one of which is a starting calibration and theothers ofwhich are distinguished by numbers, the chart being placed uponthe knob in an initial position in which its starting calibration isalined with the pointer, and the shaft directly cooperates with themeans of operative connection.

18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein the means of operativeconnection and the means for effecting the movement of the target plateconsist of sprocket Wheel and chain gearing and the ratios ofthesprocket wheels are such that the movement of the target platecorresponds in inches with the peripheral movement of the chart wherebya movement of thechart through the peripheral distance of an inchproduces a movement of the target plate along the transverse bar for thedistance of an mc 19. Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein themeans of operative connection and the means for effecting the movementof the target plate consist of sprocket wheel and chain gearing, theratios of the sprocket wheels are such that the movement of the targetplate corresponds in inches with the peripheral movement of the chartwhereby a movement of the chart through the peripheral distance of aninch produces a movement of the target plate along the transverse barfor the distance of an inch, and a chain element of the gearing isoperatively connected to the target plate in such a manner that thetarget plate moves in a direction corresponding to the direction ofmovement of the chart whereby a counterclockwise movement of the chartproduces a movement of the target plate to the left and a clockwisemovement of thehchart produces a movement of the target plate to the rigt.

20. For use in the practice of bowling with tenpins by means of astandard bowling ball and a standard bowling alley having a foul line, abowling lane including a deck for the tenpins, gutters for wild balls ateach side of the lane and upright division boards adjacent the guttersand which project to an elevation above the lane, apparatus whichcomprises, in combination: a pair of transversely alined uprightstandards mounted upon the division boards at the opposite sides of thealley, a transverse bar extending between the standards, supported bythem and connected to their upper ends, a target plate supported by andnormally pendant from the bar and pivotally movable about a transverseaxis, the target plate being engageable by the bowling ball withresultant pivotal movement from its normal position and returning bygravity to its normal position when the bowling ball passes beyond it,the target plate being mounted for slidable positionally adjustablemovement in either direction lengthwise of the bar and in any positionthereof overhanging the bowling lane, means for effecting the slidablemovement of the target plate to any desired position, the standards andthe bar being positionable at a selected location remote from the foulline and the tenpin deck, a manually actuated target plate positioningdevice located in adjacency to the foul line and having a fingerpiecefor its operation by the bowler, means of operative connection betweenthe target plate positioning device and the means for effecting themovement of the target plate, one of the upright standards for thesupport of the transverse bar being of tubular form, and a target platepositioning device including an upright standard also of tubular form,both standards of tubular form being supported by the same divisionboard and each being formed at itslower end with a plinthlikeprojection, mounting plates for the standards of tubular form secured tothe division board and formed along the sides with overhanging flangeswith which the plinthlike projections may be articulated by a slidingmovement, the standards of tubular form being disengaged from themounting plates by a sliding movement in the opposite direction, thesecond upright standard for the support of the transverse bar beingsupported in a detachable manner by the division board at the oppositeside of the lane.

21. For use in the practice of bowling with tenpins by means of astandard bowling ball and a standard bowling alley having a foul line, abowling lane including a deck for the tenpins, gutters for wild balls ateach side of the lane and upright division boards adjacent the guttersand which project to an elevation above the lane, apparatus whichcomprises, in combination: a pair of transversely alined uprightstandards mounted upon the division boards at the opposite sides of thealley, a transverse bar extending between the standards, supported bythem and connected to their upper ends, a target plate supported by andnormally pendant from the bar and pivotally movable about a transverseaxis, the target plate being engageable by the bowling ball withresultant pivotal movement from its normal-position and returning bygravity to its normal position when the bowling ball passes beyond it,the target plate being mounted vfor slidable positionally adjustablemovement in either direction lengthwise of the bar and in any positionthereof overhanging the bowling lane, means for effecting the slidablemovement of the target plate to any desired position, the standards andthe bar being positionable at a selected location remote from the foulline and the tenpin deck, a manually actuated target plate positioningdevice located in adjacency to the foul line and having a fingerpiecefor its operation by the bowler, means of operative connection betweenthe tar-get plate positioning device and the means for effecting themovement of the target plate, the transverse bar being connected to oneof the upright standards for pivotal movement about its vertical axis toa position in which it overhangs in parallel relation the division boardupon which such standard is supported, and a second upright standardparticipating in the pivotal movement of the bar and supported indetachable relation by either of the division boards, accordingly as itmay be positioned transversely of the lane or as it may be positioned inoverhanging relation to the division board which supports the firstnamed upright standard.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,512,739 Baker Oct. 21, 1924 2,336,997 Mobley Dec.'14, 1943 2,887,320Gravelleet'al May 19, 1959

1. FOR USE IN THE PRACTICE OF BOWLING WITH TENPINS BY MEANS OF ASTANDARD BOWLING BALL AND A STANDARD BOWLING ALLEY HAVING A FOUL LINE, ABOWLING LANE INCLUDING A DECK FOR THE TENPINS, GUTTERS FOR WILD BALLS ATEACH SIDE OF THE LANE AND UPRIGHT DIVISION BOARDS ADJACENT THE GUTTERSAND WHICH PROJECT TO AN ELEVATION ABOVE THE LANE, APPARATUS WHICHCOMPRISES, IN COMBINATION: A PAIR OF TRANSVERSELY ALINED UPRIGHTSTANDARDS MOUNTED UPON THE DIVISION BOARDS AT THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF THEALLEY, A TRANSVERSE BAR EXTENDING BETWEEN THE STANDARDS, SUPPORTED BYTHEM AND CONNECTED TO THEIR UPPER ENDS, A TARGET PLATE SUPPORTED BY ANDNORMALLY PENDANT FROM THE BAR AND PIVOTALLY MOVABLE ABOUT A TRANSVERSEAXIS, THE TARGET PLATE BEING ENGAGEABLE BY THE BOWLING BALL WITHRESULTANT PIVOTAL MOVEMENT FROM ITS NORMAL POSITION AND RETURNING BYGRAVITY TO ITS NORMAL POSITION WHEN THE BOWLING BALL PASSES BEYOND IT,THE TARGET PLATE BEING MOUNTED FOR SLIDABLE POSITIONALLY ADJUSTABLEMOVEMENT IN EITHER DIRECTION LENGTHWISE OF THE BAR AND IN ANY POSITIONTHEREOF OVERHANGING THE BOWLING LANE, MEANS FOR EFFECTING THE SLIDABLEMOVEMENT OF THE TARGET PLATE TO ANY DESIRED POSITION AND INCLUDING ACABLE IN PARALLEL RELATION TO THE TRANSVERSE BAR, ANNULAR GEAR ELEMENTSADJACENT THE ENDS OF THE TRANSVERSE BAR OVER WHICH THE CABLE IS TRAINED,AND A VERTICAL SHAFT CARRIED BY ONE OF THE UPRIGHT STANDARDS, ONE OF THEGEAR ELEMENTS BEING MOUNTED AT THE UPPER END OF THE SHAFT, SIGNAL MEANSFOR GIVING A SENSUAL INDICATION OF THE MOVEMENT OF THE TARGET PLATE ASSTRUCK BY THE BOWLING BALL, THE SIGNAL MEANS INCLUDING A SENSUAL SIGNALAND HAVING TWO PHASES OF OPERATION SEVERALLY IN THE CONTROL OF THEOPERATION AND THE DISCONTINUANCE OF THE OPERATION OF THE SIGNAL, ONEPHASE OF OPERATION OF THE SIGNAL MEANS BEING A NORMAL PHASE IN WHICH THESIGNAL IS INOPERATIVE AND THE SECOND PHASE BEING AN OPERATIVE PHASE INWHICH THE SIGNAL IS OPERATIVE, THE TARGET PLATE CONTROLLING THEOPERATION OF THE SIGNAL MEANS IN ITS NORMAL AND OPERATIVE PHASES AND INITS NORMAL PENDANT POSITION PROVIDING FOR THE NORMAL PHASE OF THEOPERATION OF THE MEANS AND IN ITS PIVOTAL MOVEMENT BY THE BOWLING BALLCOOPERATING WITH THE SIGNAL MEANS TO EFFECT THE SECOND PHASE OF ITSOPERATION IN WHICH THE SIGNAL IS OPERATIVE, THE STANDARDS AND THE BARBEING POSITIONABLE AT A SELECTED LOCATION REMOTE FROM THE FOUL LINE ANDTHE TENPIN DECK, A MANUALLY ACTUATED TARGET PLATE POSITIONING DEVICELOCATED IN ADJACENCY TO THE FOUL LINE AND HAVING A FINGERPIECE FOR ITSOPERATION BY THE BOWLER, AND MEANS OF OPERATIVE CONNECTION BETWEEN THETARGET PLATE POSITIONING DEVICE AND THE VERTICAL SHAFT FOR EFFECTING ITSTURNING MOVEMENT WITH RESULTANT ADJUSTMENT OF THE POSITION OF THE TARGETPLATE.